NI rower Shirley Thompson resumes Atlantic crossing bid

Shirley Thompson is attempting to become the oldest woman to row across the Atlantic

A Belfast woman has begun her second attempt at becoming the oldest woman to row across the Atlantic.

Shirley Thompson, 60, turned back after only three days earlier this week, but started again on Saturday morning.

This time she is trying a slightly different route. Rather than rowing straight across the Atlantic, she is heading south first, then west.

She started in the Canary Islands at 04:30 local time. Her destination is the Caribbean.

She has enough food on board for the next four months.

Ms Thompson said she just wants to get there safely some time before Easter.

She said she had to abort her first attempt on Wednesday due to a malfunctioning tracker.

Eyelash curlers

Speaking before she left, Ms Thompson said she was "overwhelmed by all the support I've had from home".

"Reading through all of the messages has brought tears to my eyes," she added.

Ms Thompson grew up in south Belfast and went to Richmond Lodge school with UTV presenter Pamela Ballantine.

Although she is an experienced endurance runner, she only recently took up rowing.

Ms Thompson said that having to abort her first trans-Atlantic voyage may prove to be a blessing in disguise, as she was able to fix equipment on the boat that was not working properly.

"I got to replace the tracker, and being back on land has given me the opportunity to clear out a lot of stuff on the boat that I realise I don't need," she said.

"I think the eyelash curlers are going to have to go, and maybe the face masks and a few hair treatments."